Posts Tagged ‘acupuncture’

Vestibular disease or Vestibular syndrome is a debilitating disease that often comes on suddenly and produces the classic signs of head tilt, dizziness and falling to one side or the other. The pet may hold his or her head tilted down and circle in one direction. The dog or cat appears dizzy and often has a hard time rising. The disease is seen most often in dogs, cats and rabbits but can also be seen in rodents. It occurs more frequently in older animals but can be seen at any age. Other common signs are jerking of the eyes back and forth (nystagmus) and vomiting. The symptoms of vestibular disease are in fact much like sea sickness.

Vestibular disease can originate either in the inner ear or the brain stem. If the inner ear is the problem, the condition is known as “peripheral vestibular syndrome”. If the brain stem is the location of the disease then the condition is known as “central vestibular disease”. It is not easy to distinquish between the two because the inner ear can not be visualized when examining the ear with an otoscope. Peripheral vestibular syndrome is most often the result of an inner ear infection but can also result from a polyp or tumor. Peripheral vestibular disease can some times be detected with x-rays but in other cases an MRI may be necessary to distinquish between the two conditions. Central vestibular disease, on the other hand, involves the portion of the brain stem known as the “cerebellum” and may result from an infection, tumor, or some other inflammatory disease.

Once the origin of the problem is determined treatment maybe as easy as oral medications while other times surgery may be necessary. Additional medication may be necessary to reduce nausea and vomiting. Of course, if a tumor is discovered then most likely surgery will be necessary. How quickly your pet recovers depends on the underlying cause.

A condition very similar to the above described problem is known as “Idiopathic Vestibular Disease”. The term idiopathic means a disorder that has no known cause. It is most commonly occurs in older dogs and cats. Fortunately, it carries a good prognosis.

Alternative/holistic therapies that can help a pet recover more quickly from the problem include acupuncture, “Cytokine therapy”, micro-current therapy, monolaurin therapy, and homotoxicology. For more information on holistic health care visit www.doc4pets.com

Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents, and reptiles with both conventional and alternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. Visit us at Doc4pets.com

Just as there are many types of pain there are many ways to treat pain in both pets and people. Pets can become painful for numerous reasons. Dogs and cats experience bone pain, joint pain, ligament pain, tendon pain, skeletal muscle pain, neurologic pain and internal organ pain. Depending on the type of pain your pet is experiencing there specific therapies will help relieve the pain.

Probably the most common type of pain pets experience is musculoskeletal pain. Osteoarthritis is the most well known cause of pain in older animals. Arthritis can be seen in both young and old pets but by far osteoarthritis is the most common type of old age disease that veterinarians treat on a daily basis. Traditional veterinarians treat arthritis with non steroidal anti inflammatories and narcotic pain killers. And although these remedies often work quite well to relieve pain and inflammation when used long term they can not only damage the pet’s joints but also cause liver, kidney and gastro-intestinal damage. That is why holistic veterinarians prefer to use therapies that not only relieve pain but also help repair damage tissue. Acupuncture, chiropractic, micro-current therapy, infra-sonic therapy, pulsed magnetic therapy, cytokine therapy and homotoxicology are all effective pain relievers and help repair damaged tissue. Said another way, these therapies do not just mask the pain; they also help the body repair itself.

A torn cruciate ligament in a dog’s knee is quite painful and probably the most common orthopedic injury a dog incurs. It is almost always an injury of large dogs. A common history veterinarian here is that when the owner let the dog outside he or she was walking perfectly normal but walked back in with a painful hind leg limp. Traditional veterinarians recommend that these dogs -have the leg surgically repaired. However, many holistic veterinarians know about a technique known as prolotherapy which they can use in place of conventional surgery. Prolotherapy involves a series of monthly injections of a special “sclerosing agent in and around the damaged joint. These injections create inflammation which eventually causes scar tissue to form and tighten the hyper-mobile, painful joint. Once the joint is tightened the dog can once again walk without pain. Cold laser therapy, cytokine therapy and adequin therapy can all be used along with prolotherapy in order to repair a damaged painful knee joint.

Injuries that involve a dog’s spine are extremely painful and the pet may litterly scream out in agony. Spinal cord pain may result from inter-vertebral disk degeneration or hyper-mobile vertebrae as are present in Wobblers disease. Ruptured inter-vertebral disks can be present anywhere along the spine and put pressure on the spinal cord. The muscle spasms that results from a ruptured disk putting pressure on the spinal cord are excruciatingly painful. Traditional veterinary medicine recommends the use of prednisone, muscle relaxants, narcotic analgesics and spinal cord decompression surgery. On the other hand holistic veterinarians recommend electro-acupuncture, micro-current therapy, pulsed magnetic therapy, infrasonic therapy, systemic enzymes, and cytokine therapy.

Dr. Jerry Tennant has discovered that where ever there is chronic pain there is almost always an area of low voltage or increased acidity. Consequently, in order for chronic pain to be alleviated and for healing to begin tissue voltage must initially be increased to greater than what is considered normal voltage. Once the tissue has healed the voltage decreases to normal. The additional voltage needed for healing can be obtained by reducing tissue acidity or increasing alkalinity. This can be accomplished thru adding antioxidants to the pet’s body, adding oxygen, or by using electrical magnetic devices which add electrons to the pet’s body. Such devices include the Russian Scenar, the Tennant Biomodulator, and pulsed magnetic therapy units. To learn more about holistic methods of healing visit www.Doc4pets.com

Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents, and reptiles with both conventional and alternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. Visit us at Doc4pets.com

There are many types of pain. Some are very severe and others more tolerable. Although we think of pain as bad it is actually the body’s way of letting us know that something is wrong. It tells us to slow down and protect the damaged area. Without pain we would not be aware that we were damaged in some way and we would continue doing things that would make the pain worse. Of course, if the pain is severe using pain killers to make life more tolerable is often necessary. However simply masking the pain without taking additional steps to help the damaged area heal would be a big mistake.

Pets can develop painful conditions for a number of reasons and what relieves their pain depends to a great extent on what causes it. Common painful conditions that dogs and cats develop include musculo-skeletal diseases which include injured muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bone. Specific problems such as arthritis, a torn cruciate ligament, a torn muscle, a torn menisci, hip dysplasia, a dislocated hip, osteomyelitis and osteosarcoma are all diseases causing musculoskeletal pain. Other painful conditions may originate from the diseases of the nervous system including spinal cord compression from intervertebral disks disease, narrowing of the spinal canal known as vertebral stenosis. and spinal arthritis (vertebral spondylosis) which often compresses spinal nerve roots. Gastro intestinal pain may result from gas distension, a gastric ulcer, and an intestinal foreign body causing intestinal obstruction. Urinary tract pain can arise from stones in the kidney or passing down the ureters. Stones lodged in the pets urethra can cause the bladder to distend and become very painful. Oral pain can arise from loose teeth, a cavity, a tooth root abscess, or expose dental pulp. A corneal eye ulcer, a foreign body in the eye or glaucoma can all cause severe eye pain. To reiterate it is important to keep in mind that pain is a protective mechanism the body uses to tell the pet or person to avoid using the area while healing is occurring. Consequently masking pain with pain killers although sometimes necessary may encourage the pet to use the limb before proper healing has occurred.

Before pain can be treated it must first be recognized by either the pet’s guardian or the veterinarian. Because animals can’t tell us where it hurts and when it hurts caretakers and veterinarians must learn to recognize subtle signs of pain. Sometimes pain is obvious such as when a pet walks stiffly or limps, or screams out when he or she moves in a certain way or is touched at a certain spot. However, some dogs or cats are more stoic and pain may not be so obvious to the pet’s caretaker. The less obvious signs of pain include a change in posture, subtle changes in gait, a change in ear, tail or head carriage, less activity, a decreased appetite, an increased heart rate, dilated pupils, excessive panting, a personality change such as a more aggressive or fearful nature.

Once pain has been recognized and hopefully localized, there are many holistic options for reducing pain and making the pet more comfortable. These options include herbal and nutritional anti-inflammatories like: Valerian root, Rosemary, Ginger, Celery seed, Phenylalanine, DMSO, MSM, Hops, and Boswellia. Glucosamine, collagen type 2, Hyaluranic acid, Yucca, and Ultra-InflammX . Homotoxicology remedies like Trammel, Zeel, Spascupreel and Traumeel are all used to treat painful conditions. The herbal or homeopathic remedy Arnica has long history of being used for pain management

The above therapies for pain can be used alone or in combination. Keep in mind that what works well for anyone animal may not work as well for another. Pets are like people and each individual has a unique physiology which determines which remedies or modalities work the best for them. Consequently, it may take several trials before the best solution is found.

It is important to point out that holistic solutions are commonly not as fast acting as drugs but are much safer. For most herbs or nutritional remedies pain relief may take as long as 2-3 weeks and consequently the quicker acting drugs may have to use in the initial stages in combination with the slower natural remedies.

Finally, one thing pet caregivers must realize is that it is very important to keep their dog under control during the healing process. As we reduce the pets pain they want to run after birds, rabbits or squirrel in spite of their discomfort and in doing so commonly reinjure themselves. Short easy walks can be beneficial but if the dog is pulling hard on the leash the walk may be contra-productive.

For more information on alternative and holistic medicine please visit us at www.doc4pets.com.

Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing
dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents, and reptiles with both conventional and alternative medicine. Dr. Simon is
certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and a regular contributor to Awakenings magazine.

Regardless of whether we are talking about pets or people, chronic inflammatory disease is closely associated with poor blood flow and poor oxygenation of the affected tissue or organ. The reduced supply of oxygen to the tissue results in a buildup of lactic acid and a decrease in the number of electrons available for cellular energy production and healing . Pain and dysfunction are the end result when reduced tissue blood flow diminishes available cellular energy necessary for healing inflammatory disease.

Now that we understand how chronic inflammation is related to a decreased tissue blood supply and poor oxygenation it only makes sense to ask how we can increase the poor blood flow to an inflammed area . One of the best ways is to dilate the blood vessels feeding the chronically inflammed tissue. This can be accomplished in several ways. Providing your pet with supplements containing the amino acid arginine produces vasodilatation by increasing the body’s production of nitric oxide. A second way to promote vasodilatation and increased tissue oxygenation is through acupuncture. In research studies acupuncture has been shown to stimulate nitric oxide production, dilate blood vessels, and consequently bring more oxygen and healing energy to chronically diseased tissue. Whether we use arginine supplementation or acupuncture the increased tissue oxygenation will decrease unwanted acidity and increase cellular energy both of which will encourage damaged tissue to heal.

Regularly exercising your pets is a third way to support tissue oxygenation. Pets that are encouraged to exercise will have better overall circulation to their tissues. The better circulation will result in higher levels of cellular energy and more rapid healing. Whether you walk, jog, play fetche or Frisbee with your pet the enhanced level of activity and blood flow will definitely benefit both you and your pet.

Another way of increasing oxygenation of your pet’s organs and tissues is by using nutritional supplements. Dimethylgycine is a well known nutrient that is used by athletes, both human and animal, to support the immune system and increase endurance by allowing for better tissue oxygenation. Another nutrient, Mega hydrate, is an extremely powerful antioxidant that can helps oxygenate, hydrate, and detoxify your pets damaged cells. Gingko Biloba is a well known herb that causes vasodilation and consequently better tissue oxygenation. Adding Celtic sea salt to your pet’s food on a daily basis will reduce tissue acidity and help keep the body better oxygenated. Celtic sea salt is very helpful in treating arthritis and kidney disease. Regularly feeding your pet fresh colorful veggies will provide additional antioxidants that will support tissue oxygenation and reduce inflammation.

Massage therapy can be a very pleasant way for you to encourage blood flow to your pet’s sore or damaged bones, joints and muscles. With very minimal training you can learn to massage chronicly painful areas and bring healing blood and oxygen into to the tissue. There are also simple physical therapy techniques you can learn, such as putting damaged joints through their range of motion. These techniques will encourage better blood flow to an area and increase the rate of healing. Ozone therapy is a way of adding oxygen to bodily tissues either by giving an ozone enema or by saturating a lactated ringers solution with ozone and then infusing the lactated ringers under the skin. Oral hydrogen peroxide therapy is one more way of increasing oxygen in the tissues.

The above suggestions for preventing or limiting inflammatory disease by increasing tissue oxygenation address healing your pet at a very fundamental level. Treating inflammation in this way is much preferred to using steroids or non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs which do not heal but simply mask symptoms of pain and dysfunction.

For more information on holistic or alternative medicine please visit us at www.doc4pets.com

Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets rodents, and reptiles with both conventional andalternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and past board member of the American Holistic Veterinary Association. Visit us at www.doc4pets.com

There are many theories as to why and how acupuncture works in pets and people. It is believed that pet acupuncture increases the blood levels of many different substances in the blood and spinal cord. Cortisone, endorphins, and serotonin are just a few of the body’s pain killing chemicals that are produced when acupuncture is performed. In just the last few years the discovery that the inner lining of blood vessel produces a substance known as nitric oxide which controls vascular dilation and constriction has led to the most cutting edge theory of acupuncture.

It has been known for some time that chronic inflammatory areas of the body are often painful and have a decreased blood supply. This decreased circulation leads to decreased tissue oxygenation and increased tissue acidity in the animals body. Poor oxygenation and acidity resullt in pain and dysfunction. In just the last few years research has discovered that an increase “nitric oxide synthase” activity is present around acupuncture meridians channels and acupuncture points. It is now accepted as fact that, by causing vaso dilation and vaso constriction, nitric oxide is a key regulator of blood circulation and tissue oxygenation. Research has further shown that when acupuncture is used to treat areas of chronic disease, blood plasma levels of nitric oxide increase and blood flow to those areas subsequently increases. Double blind studies have shown that when acupuncture was performed on normal body areas the blood flow did not increase whereas it did when acupuncture was used to treat chronicly inflammed tissue. It is believed that when acupuncture needles are inserted and rotated in soft tissue, they stimulate the fascial sheath that surrounds cells and increases nitric oxide production, vasodilation, increased tissue oxygenation and pain control. Of course the production of endorphins, cortisone and serotonin also occurs with acupuncture and no doubt further helps with pain control.

Regardless of which theory is right we continued to be amazed at how effective acupuncture is when treating intervertebral disk disease in dogs and cats. Many people who can not afford $2500 for an MRI and $3000 for disk surgery have found acupuncture to be a life saver. Of course acupuncture is also effective for many other problems such as hip dysplasia, arthritis, chronic licking, and epilepsy.

Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets rodents, and reptiles with both conventional andalternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and past board member of the American Holistic Veterinary Association. Visit us at www.doc4pets.com

It is hard for any owner that loves their dog or cat to become comfortable with the fact that these pets age so much more rapidly than we do. This accelerated aging is even more obvious in the larger breeds of dogs that begin to reach their geriatric years between 8 and 10 years of age. A pet’s kidneys are often the weakest link in the aging process and all to frequently the cause of old age death. Things that pet owners can do to support their pet’s ailing kidneys are as follows:

Feed a higher fiber, low protein, high quality protein diet prescription kidney diet available from all veterinarians– or — feed a home made kidney diet by following a receipe that we make available to our patients. The diet will decrease the formation of waste protein toxins, discourage obesity and reduce the work load of the kidney. The home made kidney diet can be fed either raw or cooked.

Encourage your dog or cat to drink more by providing lots of fresh water throughout the day. Doing this will promote proper hydration while at the same time flush the kidney and reduce accumulating protein derived toxins. Adding Celtic sea salt to the pet’s food will encourgage drinking, provide trace minerals he or she are likely to be deficient in, and alkalinize the animal’s body. Checking the pet’s blood pressure is recommended, especially when adding salt to the diet, to help detect hypertension often caused by kidney failure. Make sure your dog or cat receives a regular dental prophylaxis to reduce oral bacteria which are injurious to the animals kidneys, liver, and heart. Daily home dental care is essential for over all good health but particularly important for avoiding progressive kidney damage.

Supplement your dog or cat’s diet with anti-oxidants, systemic enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and glandulars to reduce kidney tissue injury by free radicals and to stimulate natural immunity. Omega 3 fatty acids, Coenzyme Q10 and alpha lipoic acid are 3 important supplements that promotes kidney health. Systemic enzymes have been shown to reduce scar tissue in the kidneys of aging dogs and cats. Homeopathics remedies that can be placed in the pet’s drinking water help promote kidney health and are easy to administer. Of course it is better to begin these supplements early on in life before the kidneys have received significant damage and symptoms become apparent. Strategically detoxifying the body with special homotoxicologic and nutritional formulas is an important adjunct to avoiding or treating kidney disease and most any other disease in the body. Starting these same supplements after kidney damage or kidney failure has been detected will help conserve the remaining kidney cells but will not restore the cells that have died.

Have your veterinarian perform semi annual blood and urine testing to monitor your dog or cat’s kidney function and to provide an early warning system for the development of other degenerative disease. Recently a new urine test, the “ERD” micro albuminuria test, has become available. The ERD test requires only a small amount of urine and can detect evidence of kidney disease much earlier than blood tests and a standard urinalysis. Any dog or cat over the age of 6 years old should be routinely tested with an ERD test because not only does it detect kidney disease but it is also a screen for inflammatory disease of many other organs.

Acupuncture and chinese herbs like Rehmania have been quite helpful in supporting kidney function. Electro acupuncture or laser acupuncture can be performed without needles at the veterinary clinic while acupressure using the same acupuncture points can be performed at home by the pet’s guardian. Recent scientific literature out of Europe has shown infrared laser therapy to provide beneficial effects in both kidney and liver disease. Pulsed magnetic therapy is totally painless and will help restore voltage to damaged kidney cells. Electro crystal rebalancing (ECR) is a therapy that broadcast energetic frequency of the chakras to rebalance the body’s energy. The ECR device can also be used energize subcutaneous fluids that are commonly sent home with kidney patient to help maintain hydration. Frequency specific micro current therapy is a relatively new form of therapy that can be applied over the kidney area and is totally painless and easy to perform. Infrasonic therapy is another painless therapy that uses a combination of sound and light frequencies to restore cellular function to the kidneys. Routine chiropractic care can help support kidney health by better establishing nerve conduction to the kidneys. Finally, ozonation of subcutaneous fluid will oxygenate and alkalinize the body and restore voltage to damaged, failing kidney cells.

Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents, and reptiles with both conventional and alternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine

Arthritis is probably the most common of the chronic diseases that progressively steels quality life from our senior dogs. Osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can effect any size dog or cat but is seen much more often in larger breed dogs. Arthritis often starts with stiffness and is first noticed when the older dog has a hard time rising in the morning. In time the owner may noticed that their dog is getting more lame, slower going up the stairs and may be reluctant to jump into the car.. A dog with hip displasia or hip arthritis tends to run like a rabbit using both back legs at once. As the arthritis progresses the dog will usually become more lame and betining kjl to hold up or favor one limb. He or she may walk with short stiff steps and the dog’s gait may show a hind end instability (swaying). At the end stages of arthritis the pet may not be able to rise without the owners help. It is a sad thing to see otherwise healthy animals euthanized because their caregiver is undable to lift them up in order to get them outside when they need to eliminate.

It is my opinion much of the arthritis our dogs experience could be eliminated by changing their diets from a grain based food to a more meat based recipe. Just because the first ingredient on the ingredient list is meat does not make the diet meat based. The only way to distinguish if a food is meat based is to asked the company’s nutritionist (not customer support person) “what percent of their food is meat when measured on a dry matter basis ?” Judged on this basis, most pet foods are no more than 20% meat. Grain based diets are hard for carnivores to digest and the poorly digested large grain protein molecules act as allergens which damage the intestinal lining and result in a “leaky gut syndrome”. This leaky gut allows grain protein molecules to get into the blood stream where they can migrate to the pet’s joints and set up an inflammatory reaction. Feeding a meat based diet helps to prevent the above sequence of events. Supplementing the diet with digestive enzymes, fish oil, and antioxidants will help reduce the likelihood of arthritis.

If your dog has already developed arthritis there are a number of ways to help slow the progression and reduce the discomfort from the disease. Injections of “chondroprotective” substances which increase joint fluid production and encourage cartilage repair can be very effective arthritis remedies. Personally I am not a big proponent of using non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to reduce inflammation and pain because their long term use may result in gastro intestinal, liver, and kidney disease. It has also been shown that long term use of NSAIDs in humans actually results in cartilage degeneration. Providing glucosamine, chondroitin , MSM, Gerizyme, Adequin, Legend, Zeel , Trameell,systemic enzymes, hyaluronic acid, Comfort Zone and antioxidants in place of NSAIDs can help restore joint integrity and, in my opinion, is a much preferred approach.

Other ways to treat advanced arthritis include physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, “infra-sonic therapy”, “pulsed magnetic therapy”, prolotherapy, gold bead implants, cold laser therapy, Electro Crystal Rebalancing and massage therapy. Teaching pet owners how to massage their pet and provide passive range of motion can be very helpful in extending and enhancing their pets quality of life.

Finally, I want let my readers know about a very exciting advance in arthritis therapy. Adult stem cell technology is now available to help treat advanced arthritis. The stem cells are harvested from the patients own fat. These stem cells can be injected intravenously or directly into joints. These injected primitive cells will develop into connective tissue and cartilaginous cells which will help to rejuvenate the damaged joint. This technology is has already been used successfully in hundreds of dogs and horses and although still on the expensive side is now available to the family pet. Presently I am one of the few veterinarians certified to provide such therapy.

Detecting the early signs of arthritis and instituting early treatment can make a huge difference in the success of therapy. Providing a high quality meat based diet, with omega 3 fatty acids, digestive and systemic enzymes and antioxidants along with weight management can help prevent the onset of arthritis and help extend both the quality and quantity of the pet’s life.

Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets rodents, and reptiles with both conventional andalternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and past board member of the American Holistic Veterinary Association. Visit us at www.doc4pets.com

Dogs are natural athletes that thrive when properly exercised. Just as with people, lack of exercise can predispose to obesity and poor health. Dogs love get outside and just run for the heck of it. They enjoy jogging with their owners or competing in agility competition. Hunting dogs can’t wait for the beginning of hunting season, Frisbee dogs want a chance to display their agility and coursing hounds love the chance to compete and show off their speed. As caregivers we need to provide these athletes a chance to get out of the house, have fun and get rid of all their pent up energy. If you do nothing more than takes your dog for regular walks you will be doing both yourself and your pet a great benefit. A young naturally active dog that is not given a chance to walk, run and jump will very likely become bored and stressed and look for ways to entertain him or herself in the form of destructive behavior such as chewing on furniture, lamp cords, shoes, and clothing. A properly exercised dog on the other hand will be too tired to indulge in such activities.

Any dog owner knows that his dog is a phenomenal athlete who is capable of running rings around them but just because their dogs have natural speed and agility it should not be assumed that they have natural endurance and that they are immune to muscle, tendon, ligament and joint injury. Dogs are mammals just like humans and although they maintain a four legged posture their basic anatomy is quite similar. Dogs can sprain joints, rupture ligaments, bruise bones and tear muscles just as easily as we can and these soft tissue injuries can take weeks or months to heal, especially if the pet continues the same activities that encouraged the injury. A dog that is not regularly exercised will develop sore tight muscles just as we do when we get out and play tennis or touch foot ball once a week. If we want to jog or bike with our dog we need to approach such activities intelligently and work up gradually to a higher level of activity. It is important to realize that dogs do not sweat so they may have a harder time getting rid of the heat produced from muscular exertion especially during the hot summer month. If you are not sensitive to your dogs limitation of exercising him or her on a hot humid day could result in heat exhaustion. Providing adequate water during such activities is essential for maintain proper body temperature and hydration. Pouring some water over your dog’s neck and back can also help with controlling elevation in body heat. During exercise of any kind pay attention to your dog’s behavior; if he appears to be slowing down and panting excessively then stop and allow your pet to catch his breath. If you are on a walk or jog and your pet begins to limp, lag behind or just sits down then end the walk. If the next day after exercising your dog has a hard time rising, seems wacked out or whimpers on being picked up then you need to reduce the intensity or length of exercise.

In order to help your pet recover more rapidly from exercise it would be good to massage your pet down either side of his or her spine from head to tail. If your pet resists then lighten up on the pressure. Find the level of pressure that he is comfortable with and then slowly increase the pressure and work deeper. Giving your pet herbal or homeopathic “arnica” after exercise will help reduce muscular aches and pains.

If you are competitive canine sports enthusiast and you are trying gain a competitive edge over your competition you will be particularly interested in the following advice. Feed your pet a homemade meat based diet using a professionally balanced recipe. The diet should consist of at least 40% meat protein, fresh colorful veggies, and very limited grain. Adding digestive enzyme, omega fatty acids, and trace mineral, and probiotic supplements will enhance nutrient absorption, reduce inflammation, prevent leaky gut syndrome, and properly alkalinize the body. Glucosamine, chondroitin, dimethyl glycine and MSM are nutraceuticals which help to prevent injury by strengthening and repairing connective tissue structures such as joint cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. Creatine is an important supplement to consider if you want to help build your dogs muscle mass. The addition of L carnitine, alpha lipoic acid, arginine and coenzyme Q10 will help enhance cellular energy production and consequently strength and endurance… Dimethylglycine and Megahydrate are nutraceuticals that help to oxygenate, hydrate and detoxify muscle cells. Homeopathic such as Traumeel, Spascupreel, and Thalmus can be placed in the pet’s drinking water and will reduce pain, inflammation and muscle spasm after strenuous competition. Post competition systemic enzymes, will reduce inflammation and prevent tendonitis, myositis, and ligamentitis. Of course it goes without saying that you should never knowingly use supplements or drugs to mask serious pain. Doing so may help you win the competition but may cause permanent damage to the animal.

To maintain a competitive canine athlete in optimal conditioning you will want to consider holistic veterinary care in the form of chiropractic, acupuncture, cold laser therapy, trigger point therapy, pulsed magnetic therapy, and infrasonic therapy. Professional canine massage therapy is another very beneficial modality that can help reduce musculoskeletal pain increase joint mobility and range of motion.

Always try to make exercising fun for both you and your pet. Combine playing with training to help keep the dogs attention. Read a book that teaches canine massage, canine stretching exercises and trigger point myotherapy. Pay particular attention to your pet’s gait and posture when he is in good health so that you will be able to pick up subtle signs of pain and lameness in their earliest stage. Remember that exercising is not only fun for you and your pet it is also very important for maintaining an ideal weight and for overall good health.

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Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets rodents, and reptiles with both conventional andalternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and past board member of the American Holistic Veterinary Association. Visit us at www.doc4pets.com

At Woodside Animal Clinic we have been having increasing success managing fearful, aggressive, and destructive behavior with minerals, anti anxiety herbs, homeopathics, flower essences, essential oils, nutritional and dietary changes and especially “neurotransmitter therapy”. Often several of these supplements are used in combination and then combined with behavior modification techniques. The use of the neurotransmitter therapy along with dietary modification and nutra -ceuticals appears to place an animal in a state where they are calmer, less dominant, and less fearful so they are easier to manage and train.

Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals derived from specific amino acid precursors.The brain produces four primary neurotransmitters which in turn produce distinctly different brain states. These different states of mind create a mood which affects the rest of the body thru both nerve pathways and endocrine (hormonal) connections. Neurotransmitters appear to be the master conductors of the body. Of course there are other neurotransmitters besides these major four but , for the sake of space, I will limit my discussion to these four.

Communication between the brain and the body, between the various endocrine organs, and between various cells of the body is necessary to maintain balance and have all parts of the body work in harmony. Think again of an orchestra with its many different instruments playing their distinct parts each of which must harmonize with the whole. In order for this to happen there must be a conductor to guide the individual orchestral sections. The conductor not only cues the various instruments he also calls for greater or lesser volume, and maintains the tempo depending on what the music calls for. Of course the orchestra we call a living body is much more complicated and therefore a much more sophisticated line of communication is needed. In the paragraphs to follow I will discuss neurotransmitter and how they conduct the bodies vast communication network.

Whether you are a human being or a pet your brain produces 4 major neurotransmitters each of which cause the brain to operate at distinctly different frequencies which in turn produces distinctly different mental states or moods. Below is a chart listing these 4 distinctions as they relate to humans. Since the brains of animals are anatomically similar and produce these same neurotransmitters we can only assume that they experience similar mental states. The basic personality differences we find in young animals may be a result of excesses or deficiencies in these chemicals. ie. shy fear biters or aggressive dominance etc. As we learn more about these 4 major neurotransmitters we may be able to adjust or balance them in people and pets in order to correct basic personality disorders.

Neurochemical Frequency Brain wave Amino acid Mental state Function .

1) Dopamine (12-16 hertz) Delta waves Tyrosine Sleep Voltage

2) Acetylcholine (8-12 hertz) Theta waves phosphotidylserine

3) GABA (4-8 hertz) Alpha waves Glutamine Daydreaming Rhythm

4} Serotonin (1-4 hertz) Beta Tryptophan Thinking

These brain states, however, are not limited to the brain, they affect the entire body via their connection to the autonomic nervous system, the endocrine system, and secretion of information molecules. Here is where the body- mind connection is born.

If any one the nutritional precursors (amino acids) used to manufacture these 4 major neuro chemicals is deficient then the associated neurotransmitter will be deficient and the body’s mental state will be affected. Adding one or more of the above amino acids to the diet can help correct a neuro-transmitter deficiency and re establish balance between these 4 neuro chemicals. The 4 amino acid precursors tryptophan, tyrosine, phosphatidylserine, and glutamine can be used to change an animal’s or person’s overall tone and personality.

Allow me to give you a very quick course in neurotransmitters. The nervous system is made up of individual cells called neurons. They act more or less as the body’s wiring. Electrical nerve impulses pass down this wiring. When a nerve impulse reaches the end of a neuron it is able to jump over to the next neuron using chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. These neuro-chemicals are stored in tiny sacs at the end of each neuron. When the nerve impulse reaches the end of the neuron it triggers a response which causes these sacs to empty there contents into the gap that separates one nerve from another. These spaces are known as synapses. When the secreted neurotransmitters reach the other side of the synapse they cause the next neuron to fire and the impulses continues down the nerve accordingly.

Now lets talk in more detail about the four major neurotransmitters:

GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid) is the brain’s natural Valium. It is synthesized in the body from its precursor amino acid Glutamine. Vitamin B6 and pyridoxine 6 phosphate are also precursor needed to form GABA. GABA is involved in the production of endorphins which produces the GABA quality of calmness. GABA is also the body’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter and the major controller of brain rhythm. A rhythmic brain creates and receives electricity in a smooth and even flow as contrasted with bursts. Rhythm determines how we handle life’s stresses. GABA hinders the transmission of impulses from one neuron to another and slows neuronal transmission. It has a calming and quieting influence which provide relaxing, anti anxiety and anti convulsive effects. Inositol enhances the effects of GABA.

Serotonin is the brains natural Prozac. The body manufactures Serotonin from the precursor amino acid tryptophan. By increasing the amount of tryptophan in the diet you can elevate the serotonin levels thereby producing the same effect as Prozac. Balancing the brain means synchronizing the right and left hemispheres. When our hemispheres are “in sync” we feel peaceful and secure.

Dopamine is the 3rd major neurotransmitters. Dopamine manages brain voltage . The nervous system manufactures dopamine from the amino acid precursor Tyrosine. Tyrosine is converted to L Dopa and then to Dopamine. Dopamine has many important roles in behavior including sleep, mood, attention and learning. It is associated with stimulation of the pleasure centers of the brain . Deficient dopamine is linked to attention deficit disorders and loss of creativity in humans. Dopamine has been associated with the processing of pain such that decreased levels of dopamine encourage painful conditions such as fibromyalgia in people. Insufficient dopamine can cause Parkinsons , in which the body loose its ability to execute smooth controlled movements. It is important to point out that we must always balance Serotonin with Dopamine. If we just add tryptophan with out tyrosine to the diet we will drive down the dopamine neurotransmitters and loose brain voltage.

Acetylcholine is the 4th major neurotransmitter. Acetylcholine works primarily at the synapse and allows for the transmission of nerve impulses across the synapse or space between two nerves or at the neuromuscular junction. If too little of the amino acid precursor, phosphatidlyserine , is present in the diet there will eventually develop a deficiency of acetylcholine. Such a deficiency will cause nerve transmission to slow down and consequently communication between different parts of the brain and body will be affected Providing increased levels of either choline or phosphatidylserine in the diet will stimulate the production of acetycholine in Alzheimers patients and dogs with cognitive disorders.. It helps them to think more clearly. Choline loading has been used with senior pets to help them remain more aware, reduce urinary incontinence and help prevent seizures. This form of therapy is known as “choline loading.” We have had good success treating urinary incontinence and senility in dogs and cats by stimulating acetylcholine production.

Anxiety and depression problems can be treated with neurotransmitter therapy combined with one or more of the following supplements: B vitamins especially niacinamide; Minerals primarily magnesium; Herbs such as valerian, St Johns Wart, kava kava, and chamomile; Essential oils such as Lavender; flower essences and homeopathics; laser therapy, electro crystal rebalancing and acupuncture.

Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets rodents, and reptiles with both traditional and alternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and past board member of the American Holistic Veterinary Association. Visit us at www.doc4pets.com

Arthritis is probably the most common of the chronic diseases that progressively steals quality life from our senior dogs. Osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can effect any size dog or cat but is seen much more often in larger breed dogs. Arthritis often starts with stiffness and is first noticed when the older dog has a hard time rising in the morning. In time the owner may noticed that their dog is slower going up the stairs and may be reluctant to jump into the car. A dog with hip displasia or hip arthritis tends to run like a rabbit using both back legs at once. As the arthritis progresses the dog may begin to hold up or favor one limb. He or she may walk with short stiff steps and the dog’s gait may show a hind end instability (swaying). The pet’s hind legs may shuffle along the ground while walking. At the end stages of arthritis the pet may not be able to rise without the owners help. It is a sad thing to see otherwise healthy animals euthanized because their caregiver is unable to lift them up in order to get them outside when they need to eliminate.

It is my opinion much of the arthritis our dogs experience could be eliminated by changing their diets from a grain based food to a more meat based recipe when they are young. Just because the first ingredient on the pet food ingredient list is meat does not make the diet meat based. The only way to distinguish if a food is meat based is to asked the company’s nutritionist (not customer support person) “what percent of their food is meat when measured on a dry matter basis ?” Judged on this basis, most pet foods are no more than 20% meat. Grain based diets are hard for carnivores to digest and the poorly digested large grain protein molecules act as allergens which damage the intestinal lining and result in a “leaky gut syndrome”. This leaky gut allows grain protein molecules to get into the blood stream where they can migrate to the pet’s joints and set up an inflammatory reaction. Feeding your pet a meat based diet will help prevent the above sequence of events. Supplementing the diet with digestive enzymes, fish oil, and antioxidants will help reduce the likelihood of arthritis.

If your dog has already developed arthritis there are a number of ways to help slow its progression and reduce the discomfort it produces. Personally, I am not a big proponent of using non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like Rimidyl or Deramax to reduce inflammation and pain because their long term use may result in gastro intestinal, liver, and kidney disease . Injections of “chondroprotective” substances, like Adequin and hylauronidic acid which will increase joint fluid production and encourage cartilage and ligament repair can be a much more effective arthritis remedies. It has also been shown that long term use of NSAID drugs in humans actually results in cartilage degeneration . Providing oral glucosamine, chondroitin , MSM, Gerizyme, Adequin, Legend, Zeel , systemic enzymes, hyaluronic acid, Comfort Zone and antioxidants in place of NSAIDs can also be very helpful in restoring joint integrity and, in my opinion, is a much preferred approach to the more problematic drugs.

Other alternative/ holistic ways to treat advanced arthritis include , acupuncture, chiropractic, Frequency Specific Microcurrent therapy (FSM), “infra-sonic therapy”, “pulsed magnetic therapy”, prolotherapy, gold bead implants, cold laser therapy, physical therapy, and massage therapy. Teaching pet owners how to massage their pet and provide passive range of motion can be very helpful in extending and enhancing their pets quality of life. Of course it goes without saying that keeping your pet at the proper weight and frequencly trimming your dog’s nails will make a big difference in how he or she walks. Prolotherapy is a non surgical approach to treating torn cruciate ligaments and in my hands has been quite successful in repairing unstable the knee joints in dogs.

Finally, I want let my readers to know about a very exciting advance in arthritis therapy. Adult stem cell technology is now available to help treat advanced arthritis. The stem cells are harvested from the patients own fat. These stem cells can be injected intravenously or directly into joints. Fat derived stem cells are “non embryonic” andwill develop into connective tissue and cartilaginous cells which will help to rejuvenate the damaged joint. This technology has already been used successfully in hundreds of dogs and horses and although still on the expensive side is now available to the family pet. Presently I am one of the few veterinarians certified to provide such therapy. Adding “cold laser therapy” to stem cell therapy has improved my chances of a successful outcome.

Detecting the early signs of arthritis and instituting early treatment can make a huge difference in the success of therapy. Providing a high quality meat based diet, with omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants along with weight management and regular exercise can help prevent the onset of arthritis and help extend both the quality and quantity of the pet’s life.

Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets rodents, and reptiles with both conventional andalternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and past board member of the American Holistic Veterinary Association. Visit us at www.doc4pets.com